Jailed for keeping pipe bomb in bedside locker

A man kept a viable pipe bomb in a bedside locker in the room he shared with his partner and young child, a sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court heard yesterday.

Gerard O’Callaghan, aged 27, was found guilty by jury at the same court on October 15 of possessing the explosive device at his apartment in Upper Cecil St, Limerick on January 15, 2013.

Detective Garda Fergal Hanrahan, Henry St, gave evidence at the trial that gardaí received confidential information and as a result organised a search of the apartment, having obtained a search warrant.

Following a forced entry to the ground-floor apartment, gardaí went to a bedroom occupied by O’Callaghan, his partner and young child, who were all in bed. O’Callaghan’s mother and brother were sleeping on a couch in the sitting room/kitchen.

On entering the bedroom, gardaí saw O’Callaghan reach towards a bedside locker on his side of the bed.

A viable pipe bomb was found in the locker and the Army bomb squad was called. Other buildings on the street were evacuated and the area was closed off while the bomb was removed to an open area at the Dock Rd. It was found to be a viable device which contained a fuse and shrapnel made up of screws and plastic pieces.

Judge Tom O’Donnell imposed a five-year sentence, suspending the final year.